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Michael MacClancy reports After the chaos and disarray at Wokingham and Reading it was a pleasure to run in the excellently organised Fleet Half Marathon today. Fleet’s 11:30 start is rather unusual but allows plenty of opportunity to have a decent breakfast and arrive in ample time. Parking in the centre of Fleet is a dream and the start in Calthorpe Park is in easy walking distance. In the park there are marquees for bag storage and refreshments and a huge number of portaloos with very reasonable queues. One slight surprise was the distance to walk from the park to the actual start line in Leawood Road. Walking along a narrow track through woodland we did wonder whether we would reach the start on time but there was no real reason to worry. In Leawood Road there were very clear signs for predicted finishing times with plenty of space between them. Just before the start all the runners were moved forward towards the line. Once the gun had gone it only took Mary and I 15 seconds to cross the line, something of a record in itself! The course first does a loop of Calthorpe Park, passing the Oatsheaf Pub where Pam and Pete Berriman were supporting. It then goes down the main shopping street before turning north-east towards the railway line. The first drinks station is near the three mile mark in Elvetham Road. With the sun shining high in the sky it was good advice to drink regularly. Having crossed the railway the course almost doubles back on itself through the new Elvetham Heath Estate, a pleasant mixed development of housing. The road has lots of roundabouts but these don’t get in the way and, in any case, the road is closed to traffic, in common with most of the course. Leaving the estate, you turn left up Minley Road, crossing the M3 and reaching the second drinks station just before the 6 mile mark. Then left up Blackbushes Road, a long steady climb before turning left down Rotten Green Road at about the half way point. This stretch seemed very long and it was easy to lose concentration, particularly when hearing the motorcyclists burning up at Fleet Services! Reaching the A323 there was a left turn under the motorway before a right towards Winchfield. The A323 appeared to be completely closed to traffic, indeed, I suppose it had to be to let all the runners get right across it. Just after the corner was the third drinks station. Plenty of attendants holding out cups of water although the first youngster I went to seemed reluctant to release his grip on the cup and most of its contents ended up over him! Onwards towards the 9 mile mark and two portaloos specially provided for anyone who needed a quick pitstop, then a left turn at the Barley Mow where there were plenty of customers to cheer us along. This section of the course was very scenic and it was a joy to be running out in the country on such a lovely day. Going through Dogmersfield we passed another pub, the Queen’s Head, in a wonderful location with more cheering customers in the beer garden. No beer for us though, the final drinks station was but a short distance further on, an ideal location to set you up for the final three miles. Picking up the pace at this stage of a race is always motivating, seeing as how many people are tiring and it seems quite east to overhaul them. After a left turn into Hitches Lane we passed Hart Leisure Centre and, soon afterwards, the 12 mile mark. A short distance later, at the turning into Fitzroy Road, there was an official with a stop watch calling out times. He said there was just a mile to go! Excellent, now we can really grit our teeth and go for it! Keep passing people in Fitzroy Road before a sharp left and right turn and a straight section that seems much further than when I rode round the course on my bike the other day. At the end I hear Pam cheering me on before turning back into Calthorpe Park and a mad dash for the line. Check my watch just after the finishing line – 1:31:53, well inside my previous PB, so an excellent day’s work. Shortly afterwards I was even more pleased to see Mary crossing the line in just over 1:38, a new PB for her too! There were several other Windle Valley Runners in the race and it was particularly good to see Colin and Kerrie Woods still going despite their severe injury problems over the last twelve months. Thanks to Pam and Pete for your support. Next time we want to see you running! This is the best organised race I have ever run in the UK and I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone. (The provisional results were even posted on the web on the evening of the race!) It’s a great pity it clashed with so many other popular events this time, perhaps next year the organising clubs can talk with each other to reduce the clashes? There were only about 2000 finishers this year. I wonder if the mobilisation of troops to the Gulf reduced the number of forces’ entries?
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